Meet Jalae Parker: First female athletic trainer at Danville HS
DANVILLE, Ill. — Since I was young, I always knew I wanted to help others. I just never knew how. I contemplated many professions from being a physical therapist to a physician assistant. But being an athlete was always something I loved and once I found out that I could still work in athletics as well as helping others, I knew that Athletic Training was something I wanted to pursue.
I decided to apply for the Youngstown State University Master of Athletic Training Program. During my time in the program, I experienced some cool opportunities. I had a clinical rotation for the YSU football team and traveled with them to many different states and universities such as Ohio State University, Murray State, South Dakota State University, and Villanova University.
During the last year of my program, I was able to learn so much, from experiencing my first labrum tear diagnosis to my first ACL tear diagnosis and rehabilitation.
I have always had a goal to give back to my community in some form. I’ve thought about how, and once I was told that Danville High School had an open position for an Athletic Trainer, I thought, “What better way to give back to my community than to work and inspire others to attend college, or even pursue a career in sports medicine?”
Being able to have the opportunity to be the first female athletic trainer at DHS, as well as an African American athletic trainer, is a big honor.
I am excited to show students, staff, and the community not only the importance of being an athletic trainer, but also being able to apply everything that I have learned over the past six years. I am so excited to be back at DHS where it all started, where I was first introduced to the career that I have decided to pursue.
Where I was once a Danville Viking athlete. To provide the health care I was also provided during my time at DHS is heartwarming. As for the future, I am uncertain about what it entails but I am ecstatic for whatever comes my way.
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